Operation & Monitoring (O&M)

We all recognize the need to protect valuable surface waters, diminishing ground water supplies and share the desire to prevent costly premature failures of on-site sewage systems. Jefferson County has had a monitoring program since 1987.

History of Septic System Monitoring in Jefferson County

1995 Washington State Code was revised to require monitoring of all on-site sewage systems.

2000 Jefferson County adopted revisions to our local code to comply with the 1995 State requirement.

2007 The State Board of Health adopted revisions to the on-site sewage code. This revision requires that an owner of a "conventional" gravity system without a pump must have it properly inspected at least once every three years. All systems that include a pump must be inspected every year.

2012 Jefferson County Board of Health relaxed regulations to allow authorized homeowners to complete most required septic system monitoring inspections. A goal of the program is to provide information about septic system operations, maintenance and inspections as well as making it easier to complete the monitoring inspections at a more reasonable cost.

Monitoring & Maintenance

If a system is not monitored and maintained properly, the chances of pre-mature failure increases. The costs involved with repairing a modern day on-site sewage system can run into the thousands of dollars very quickly. System failure could be to a point beyond repair resulting in the need for a new on-site sewage system to be installed.

Requirements

Currently Jefferson County Code requires that periodic inspections be completed by a Certified Operations and Monitoring Specialist or a Licensed Designer.

Jefferson County Public Health hosted a series of public work group meetings to develop recommended revisions to the existing septic system monitoring program. The recommendations include 2 major improvements to the existing program:

They provide septic system operation and maintenance education for any interested person at no additional cost.

They enable homeowners, who complete training courses and receive authorization to conduct some of the required monitoring inspections instead of requiring a Certified Operation and Monitoring Specialist or Licensed Designer for all inspections.

The work group meetings were open to the public and a comment period was available at each meeting.